My mind is still on yesterdays story, about Jesus and the demon haunted man, in Luke 8. I want to approach it from yet another angle. That is the great thing about scripture; there are hundreds of ways to talk about what is involved in any given passage.
This morning I’m going to back up a few verses, to where Jesus was still in the boat with the disciples. He had just walked on stormy water to save the boat, his frightened disciples were in, from capsizing.
25 He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?" 26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. (Lk. 8)
Then Jesus steps out of the boat into another life and death drama. When a man runs to meet him driven by a legion of demonic forces. It says that the man lived in tombs among the dead. He was naked, unpredictable, violent and alone. He was also a Gentile who lived opposite Galilee. Which refers to much more then geography!
This portion of Luke’s Gospel is pointedly revealing a subtle point that is often missed. Jesus intentionally steps out to confront what is opposite of life.
Telling us in so many words: No one is beyond the reach of God’s redeeming love. That the generous grace of God is not bound by any situation or circumstance or person.
The story, being about the herd of pigs, is another clue to God’s true character. Jesus has entered an area where pigs — a dirty unclean animal according to Jewish teachings — are a basic commodity to the needs of local diet and economy.
Clearly Jesus is the outsider here. Definitely not one of the townsmen!
And there is more, much more, to this story. It tells us that salvation, the healing, and saving of the man. Creates hostility in others. That is, something what is good and right is seen as not so good. And most of that hostility comes not from the joy of healing demonic person. But rather, to the villagers, the herd of pigs was more important than a sick man.
Allowing the demons to invade the pigs, who then ran into the water and drowned, created havoc in that Gentile economy.
Sound somewhat familiar? Human welfare? Or, Economics?
The man is free of all demons! But the villagers are left without their food and livelihood. What is more important ,a man’s life, or the economy? Now to be sure, the economy is extremely important! But so is the life of a person!
A very tiny thin line of balance in what is right or not right!
So now try to imagine the situation. The healed man is now allowed to go back to his village and live as a normal person. But! He really wants to go and follow Jesus. Jesus tells him no! No, you need to go home and tell people how much God has done for you.
So now, imagine yourself as one of the villagers. Who now is face-to-face in the presence of the healed man. You have lost all your pigs! How will you receive the good news of the absence of the man’s demons? Just imagine the your reaction to the man’s ministry about how gracious and wonderful God has been to him. And you, you have lost everything! What has God done for you?
Right?
Next imagination:
You are the healed person in the story. But you have not been miraculously healed of a legion of demons haunting your body. You are just a normal — what ever that means — person. With an ordinary life, living in suburbia And Jesus says to you: If you want to follow me, this is what I want you to do. I want you to go to your friends, neighbors and family and tell them all what God has done for you.
Now, Jesus knows that you are a faithful Christian. But not a very out going individual. You keep pretty much to yourself. You believe in God and Jesus. You go to church almost every Sunday. But your faith is “personal!” Jesus most likely knows all of this! He knows that you are the kind of person that cringes at even the thought of being asked to be a Sunday School teacher. Or a reader in worship! Jesus knows you inside out! But none-the-less he asks you to do it anyway. Go and tell all that God has done for you. Where would you start?
What would you say?
What is your mind thinking right now? I CAN’T! Or is it just blank? Or are your hands sweating from the panic inside of you?
I can remember when I was a senior in collage. The Dean of Chapel said to me one morning: “Don’t you think it is time for you to take a turn at giving the sermon in chapel?” My entire body stiffened and my hand began to sweat. My mouth opened and I said “NO!” And I never did! Speaking about God is a terrifying responsibility. It just is! Whether you are talking to a friend or in the pulpit!
I did learn to do it without shaking too much!
But now I want you to think about what it means, for you and I, to be a “follower of Jesus.”
And remember what Jesus told his disciples: “Go!” Go and make disciples of all nations.” Was that command just for the twelve? Do you actually believe that he didn’t mean you and me? Because we are disciples — students — of Jesus! We are all asked to witness to our faith in, the preciousness of, God’s unconditional loves and acceptance
Was it only the healed man’s job to “Declare all that God has done.?” Just because it was so miraculously accomplished?
Maybe there is a more pointed question: If, if you and I don’t “go” and “declare” all that God has done. Who will? Have you ever given that much thought? If all of the followers of Jesus don’t spread the word of God’s love, who will? Think about that!
Thank God the disciples, and early Christian, took on Jesus’ challenge. Or we would not even be having this conversation.
So, if we believe, have faith, in Jesus. That he is God come to earth in his human skin! And, if Jesus has asked his faithful to follow, by leading. How are we, you and I, together; suppose to do that?
How do we “follow?” How do you imagine that happening in todays world?
Or, should we just let the other guy do it!
We are, after all, “…God’s own people in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…(1Peter 2)
Martin Luther’s understanding is that all members of Christ’s Body, all believers, are to be about doing ministry. Whoever they are, wherever they are, whenever they can.
Jesus sent the man, whom the town saw as unclean, back into his town to make some changes. To be a living testimony. Helping them to know God.
Think about this! The man may not have spoken a sentence or even a word. But he lived to the honor of God. People saw in him a difference! They must have seen kindness and understanding. That behavior told a more meaningful story; than all the words he may have spoken.
So let me end by asking you to think about this: If the man would have followed Jesus. Stay with Jesus and his other disciples. It would have been so much easier for him. And, by the way, certainly much easier for his neighbors, who could revert back to the statuesque. Never learning about God/Jesus! Never having to change! Just life as usual!
But! If he went back to his hometown, where they had banned him, he would be a constant reminder! A reminder of what he once was. But was no longer! Now, well in body, mind and spirit. He moves about them as a witness to what God can do. Now, they will have the opportunity to decide for themselves about God/Jesus.
And also they will have to decide about the very real possibilities that God offers when faith is lived out loud. Out loud, graciously declaring what God has done, is doing and will do among us.
Right now today!